William Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a British poet and playwright, he was well known as the greatest writer of all time, he was often called the "Bard of Avon".Although many facts of his life remain unknown, his poems and plays are unique and have timeless theme that touch everyone’s heart, and are still widely studied and performed in today’s society. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England enjoyed a time of prosperity and stability that led to a new era for England. Shakespeare’s works epitomize arts of the Elizabethan Epoch; through his uses of beautiful and poetic language, iambic pentameter is nearly always used in his style of poetry. Shakespeare wrote about timeless themes about …show more content…

Shakespeare’s histories, such as Henry V, were a tribute to the Monarch and to the country. Many playwrights and other artists paid homage to their patrons, including Shakespeare. By writing about the glories of England and her former rulers he was paying homage to Queen Elizabeth and England. Since the arts were kept alive by patrons, it was best not to anger one and lose your support. Shakespeare sometimes, such as in Hamlet, criticized the Monarchy, but in a way that would not be obvious or outwardly treasonous. He spoke his mind, but also paid lip service to keep money coming from his patron.
Shakespeare was a very prolific writer, because his writings are not totally original. He had help with many of his plays from other writers and actors, such as Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593), resulted people doubting that he himself wrote his plays. King Lear is based on a Celtic myth, and Hamlet is a retelling of earlier versions of the same story. Elizabethan plays use stock-type characters like those found in Comedia Del’Arte and Roman plays, and actors would specialize in specific types of roles.
The English Renaissance Theatre played a significant part of Elizabethan theatre and Shakespeare's playwright career. The theatre has a proscenium-arch stage, and seatings on three tiers (stalls, circle and balcony). Shakespeare first worked for Lord